Recently my wife and I have been watching more HGTV than usual. Our oldest son got us hooked on shows like “Love It or List It” and “House Hunters” during one of his last trips to North Charleston. I’m not sure what the real interest is other than comparing the taste and opinions of others to our own. I think part of our curiosity may also be in seeing how others live elsewhere. Now while watching these shows I’ve noticed a disturbing trend, or at least disturbing to me, as I shared with my wife not long ago. Time and again as couples walk into their newly renovated homes and spaces the first words spoken are normally “Oh my God.” There’s really nothing new about this phrase other than the frequency of its use within the American culture. No matter the source whether it’s commercials, social media, or in daily conversations “Oh my God” has become the new “awesome.” A decade ago the word “awesome” was used ad nauseam to describe most everything good or beyond the norm and today it’s “Oh my God” or “OMG” in text and posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The issue I take with “Oh my God” or “OMG” is that these expressions are forms of blasphemy – literally taking the Lord’s name in vain. I think what disturbs me most is that so many Christians seem to be ignorant of this truth and seldom appear convicted by their frequent use. Actually, just writing about this topic makes me uncomfortable as a follower of Christ. No doubt some will question if such statements are profane at all because the prevalent thinking of our day suggest we've moved beyond such ideas. Yet God is the same God of old if He is truly immutable, and therefore any use of His name in an irreverent way is sinful no matter what the majority may believe today.

Exodus 20:7 (ESV) “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

The primary meaning of the Hebrew word “shav” [vain] is “evil, useless, or worthless.” The New Living Translation renders “shav” as “misuse.” Common sense should tell us that phrases such as “Oh my God” and OMG are clearly an abuse of God’s name. And because these terms are an abuse of His name they demean His Holy and righteous character. Here’s a question along the same line. Shouldn’t we also consider how we use the name of Christ Jesus since He’s fully God? How many times have you heard others use the name of Christ in disgust as part of a typical conversation? Probably more than we’d like to admit. In reality the misuse of God’s name in any form should be discouraged and especially among Christians. As believers let’s encourage one another to be different than the world around us, and show God the proper respect He is rightly due. Blessings,Rod

Like it or not America is in a state of decline socially, religiously, and globally. From an international standpoint we have all the appearance of a toothless lion. We maintain a fearsome facade, but our bite no longer demands the same respect it once did in decades past. Most Americans are war weary and no longer have the stomach for issues abroad. Secondly, we’re living on credit with a national debt quickly approaching 18 trillion dollars. The idea that we’re too big to fail is a fallacy. I’m not a financial guru, but I've lived long enough to know there will be another correction in the markets. The real question is will we survive when the bills come due. Finally we've become a nation lacking the moral fortitude needed to lead others. We’re not only on the verge of financial bankruptcy, but we’re also morally bankrupt without any real sense of urgency to correct our course. Some may think I have a negative view of the world, when in truth, I’m simply being realistic. There’s little debate how the international community now views America, and the second point of our national debt is well documented with many financial experts predicting another crash soon. Lacking moral fortitude can be debated, but the evidence based upon our rapidly changing attitudes toward what is and isn’t acceptable tells the story of our decline. Take a moment, and think about a few recent events. Some two weeks ago the sports world, as we know it, was up in arms because of the racial comments of Donald Sterling. His 31 year old girlfriend had secretly taped one of his archaic rants and later released his tirade to the media. Of course there was a national feeding frenzy, and the NBA quickly moved to punish Sterling with the harshest penalties possible. The 81 year old Sterling has been banned for life from all NBA events, and there is now an attempt by the league to force the sale of the team he’s owned since 1981. There is no defending his racial comments, and he has since apologized, but to no avail. As the old southern saying goes, “put a fork in him – he’s done.” According to numerous news sources this isn't the first time Donald Sterling has found himself in the cross-hairs of public disdain, but it is the first in which the scope of his misdeeds have reached this level of national intensity. There have been reports throughout his years in Los Angeles about cheating, not paying players and hotel bills, and even serving as one of LA’s biggest slumlords. What I find most interesting is Sterling’s past actions didn't rise to the level of concern as did his words in this most recent episode of idiocy. There’s nothing right about Sterling’s racial ramblings, but where are all the defenders of free speech, capitalism, and rights of ownership? Americans once highly valued freedom of speech, but now it appears this right is only valued if it’s in agreement with the majority. No one in the NBA or media seemed all that upset when this man left his wife of 59 years to have an affair with another woman 50 years his junior. Could it be that only the “right kind of free speech” is important while fidelity in marriage isn't a big deal to most of the American populace? Can a person who asks for forgiveness in our country never be forgiven of stupidity of speech while adultery and other acts of immorality are simply overlooked by the public at large? The answer appears to be – yes. Lie, cheat, steal, or commit some form of sexual transgression and America shrugs. Commit the wrongful act of saying something considered offensive by the masses, and it’s as if you've committed the “unpardonable sin.” Take a statement by LeBron James, for example, who apparently is the spokesperson for “all” current NBA players. He stated last week that “the players” believe no one from the Sterling family should maintain possession of the Clippers once the elder Sterling is removed from ownership. James’ answer is to punish the entire family for the crime of offensive speech, because the senior member of this family said something repulsive. Wow! Forgiveness when asked? No way. So let’s understand this correctly. Free speech isn't really free. If we follow the logic of James and the NBA then exercising your right to say something stupid or offensive should cause you to lose ownership rights to your property. Your family members should also lose their rights to any property, and your ability to earn wages should be compromised. This isn't an isolated event. Don Jones of the Miami Dolphins was fined and suspended by the NFL this week because of a “tweet” he made concerning Michael Sam’s show of affection toward his “boyfriend” on ESPN (May 10th). After Sam was drafted by the Saint Louis Rams he promptly kissed his lover to which Jones tweeted “OMG.” When asked if he was referring to Sam’s kiss, Jones tweeted “horrible.” Don Jones is now required to complete “educational training” before he’ll be allowed back into the NFL fold. Educational or sensitivity training sounds eerily like the communist reeducation camps – get with the program or suffer. I know that may be a bit over the top, but other American institutions and businesses are requiring the same type of training the NFL is demanding of Jones. The message is that if you have a thought or a statement contrary to public opinion then keep your mouth shut or else. Note what Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports recently wrote:

The NFL will not tolerate any negativity from within its own ranks about the Sam story. Most of the reaction has been very positive. And if you're a NFL player and you don't agree with Sam's lifestyle, you better keep that to yourself. ... The NFL is making sure that anyone wanting to turn this positive story into something negative will pay the consequences. There's way too much at stake for the NFL to be passive about this. Jones had to learn the hard way. Now that other NFL players see what happened to him, don't expect to hear a lot more negativity on the subject.

It’s a good thing former NFL running back Darrick Ward is no longer playing, or he most likely would have experienced the wrath of Roger Goodell. The Christian Post has reported that Ward and his family have received death threats from Gay Activists due to his tweets about ESPN’s coverage of the kiss. Basically Ward’s response was that he thought it was inappropriate for ESPN to show the Sam’s kiss because children were watching the draft. ESPN and the NFL, I believe, wanted to make a statement and they did, proving they’re a progressive organization. I love the game of football having played for a number of years, but I don’t tune in to ESPN, the NFL Network, or watch games on Sunday afternoons for a progressive political statement. I tune in simply to watch the game. Our words and actions may cost us personally at times whether they’re right or wrong, but surely I’m not the only one who sees the real danger that lurks ahead. When Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church were protesting the funerals of American soldiers and saying the vilest things some wanted to pass laws to quiet his group which I believe would have been a mistake. I don’t have to like the views or what someone may say to appreciate their right to think it and say it – whatever “it” may be. If we continue to police every word as a nation, it won’t be long until it hits home with you and me. Our First Amendment rights aren't to protect the majority but the minority. The reality is that these events are simply indications of greater problems in our country and the Church as well. Studies from Pew and Barna, along with other research groups, provide us enormous amounts of data each year from which we can intelligently decipher our national direction. One conclusion which is becoming ever clearer is that our constitutional rights are rapidly evaporating under the guise of a pseudo-tolerance and politically correct society. We should keep in mind that a majority doesn't automatically equate to being in the right. A large number of Americans no longer seem to care if the US Constitution is pillaged by ethically challenged individuals in leadership as long as it doesn't affect them personally. So from a secular point of view our problems appear to be a constitutional crisis that seeks to “fundamentally change America.” In regards to the Church, her issues are not only intertwined and influenced by a worldly mentality but also from doctrinal ignorance and spiritual apathy. There is an issue with the refusal to deal with sin and especially the sin of homosexuality. This is extremely prevalent within the Millennial Generation – those born between the late 1970’s and 1990’s. Here are some things we know about them:

They have a great need for instant gratification and lack the discipline to wait. They've grown-up in the age of rapid technology and expect answers quickly.

(This should be a no brainier) – They have short attention spans; meaning that most would have only read a paragraph or two of this blog.

They live at home longer and are getting married later in life.

They hide their true identities online behind created personas.

They care less about the things their parents and grandparents did at the same point in life.

From birth to death, almost everything about their life is documented electronically. They’re different from Generation X before them (1964 – 1977) in some significant ways. Where Gen X accepted diversity Millennials celebrate diversity, almost reveling in the differences of others. Their predecessors also had a mistrust of established intuitions like the Church, but Millennials view institutions as irrelevant which I believe poses a greater danger. And lastly, Gen Xers maintained a distinction between family and friends where as Millennials take a different view. For this generation friends are considered family which may help to explain their strong and supportive views of homosexuality.

If one wants to see a fair depiction of the life and struggles of Millennials look no further than Pivot TV and their show “Raising McCain.” I’m not suggesting this is a great show, but it does provide some insights as to the direction we’re heading both in America and the Church. I normally cringe when I watch the show because of the flawed thinking that is often promoted concerning social issues; I think the arguments presented lack depth. Senator John McCain’s daughter Meghan is the host of the show, and she certainly is no conservative, but what you'll see if you watch her program is Millennial thinking in action. Here’s the good news about Millennials. They still want to maintain a connection to the Church. As long as these 20 – 30 something year olds want to be engaged we have a chance. We have a chance to lead them to greater biblical and theological understandings. The Church in America has a chance to thrive again. So what’s the bad news or bottom-line? Internationally we’ve become the punch-line for a bad joke; at home personal rights are eroding daily; race relations are digressing into an abyss of cultural discord; the institution of marriage is being devalued and the family unit deconstructed; sin is viewed as a relative issue; and the Church is facing generational challenges which could lead to a Church that looks more like the Church in Europe – almost dead. All of these things give followers of Christ more reason to pray Maranatha … Lord Come! I’m not suggesting we be discouraged in any sense. The Scriptures have never taught the world would grow progressively better but worse (2 Tim 3:1-9). God is still on His throne, and as believers we’re called to be faithful while we await the return of Christ. God is still God, His Word is true, and that’s something to be positive about! Blessings, Rod

Dolphins fine and suspend player for tweeting negative comment about Michael Sam; Frank Schwab, editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo SportsLeBron James says NBA players feel no members of Donald Sterling's family should own Clippers; The Canadian Press – Sun, 11 May, 2014Generation X and The Millennials: What You Need to Know About Mentoring the New Generations; Diane Thielfoldt and Devon Scheef, August 2004 Barna Millennial Project; https://www.barna.org/barna-update/millennials

Recently I attended a viewing of the “Son of God” and was somewhat taken aback by its lack of biblical reliability. My wife stated she knew before we entered the theater I would be disappointed simply because she knows me and my love for the Word of God. I truly had high hopes because of the support this film had garnered from the evangelical community, yet I’m still coming to terms with the continuously changing face of evangelicalism. There is often a portrayal within our society that all evangelicals are conservative and biblically literate which is far from the truth. Theologically America is less conservative today and our view of the Bible is in decline.

"Despite a clear cultural interest and awareness of the Bible, the research also shows that neutral or negative attitudes toward the Bible are becoming more commonplace. In 2011, more than half (53%) of adults said the Bible “contains everything a person needs to live a meaningful life.” In 2013, that percentage dipped below half of the population (47%). And although the 61% of American adults who want to read the Bible represents a majority of Americans, it’s a step down from the 67% of adults who said the same in 2011. Furthermore, the percentage of adults who believe the Bible contains everything a person needs to live a meaningful life has declined substantially from 75% to 66% in the last two years." (Barna)

From Barna’s research I would venture a guess and say most Christians who watched the “Son of God” did so more with a devotional eye rather than a factual one, and that accuracy wasn't as important as was the emotional factor. I realize certain creative liberties will always be taken by filmmakers – even those holding to the Christian banner. Creative license however shouldn’t be an excuse for a lack of Scriptural faithfulness, and especially for those who are held in high regard within Christendom. Now for those who enjoyed the “Son of God” and were moved by this film I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but I do believe there are some things we should think about as Christians. So what are my real issues with this film? First, the cynic in me says this production wasn’t as pure as some would have us believe. The film was peddled as an evangelistic tool to many pastors, and I sincerely hope numerous individuals came to know Christ as Savior but I’m not so sure. Knowing what I know now about how the movie was produced from bits and pieces of “The Bible” on the History Channel, I question if the motives weren’t more for financial reasons based on the success of the miniseries. I don’t have a problem with this film making money, but I do have a problem with what I believe is a lack of truthfulness in its marketing. Secondly, the storyline was fragmented most likely because it was spliced together and better suited for television rather than a larger theatrical production. This was not the high quality film that was characterized by its representatives. Third, Downey’s Catholicism was more on display than the Gospel of John. In the scene of the Last Supper the false doctrine of transubstantiation is promoted (a belief that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christand becomes a means of salvation). The Archdiocese of Washington has even devoted video lessons based on particular clips from the film including the doctrine of transubstantiation (explanation). And then there is Mary Magdalene’s constant presence and placement of importance beside Christ which is not only misleading but a distraction to say the least. And lastly the biggest problem I have with the film is what was intentionally left out. At one point Christ Jesus is addressing Thomas and states, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” That’s it – no more. The exclusivity of Christ is abandoned and I have to wonder why? Clearly the statement is from John 14:6 and what is excluded is, “And no one comes to the Father except through me.” Was this done for political correctness in order not to offend others? Who knows? What I do know is that faith in Christ is the only means of salvation, and there’s no reasonable excuse to leave such an important fact out of the dialogue as presented. Were there positive aspects to this film? Absolutely! I was moved by the crucifixion of Christ and was once again reminded of His sacrificial love. And of course His resurrection was reassuring because without this we have no hope. As Christians it’s inconceivable to demand perfection in this production or any other, but we should maintain an expectation of authenticity that honors God and His Word. Just Thinking,Rod

Remember the game tag? One kid was the proverbial “it,” and all the other kids ran from him in order not to be tagged and become “it.” A fun and simple game played in simpler times and in big green yards. I’m not even sure if children are allowed to play tag anymore in public schools because of its political incorrectness, but many adults play a tagging game in today’s society and they play with a vengeance.Politicians, lobbyists, special interest groups, and the media often use tagging as a tactic to advance social agendas and political ideologies. This calculated approach is intellectually dishonest and destructive to our society. The method of tagging has been used successfully for years now primarily against Bible believing Christians and other groups who lean toward traditional values and conservatism. It works by simply attaching a “tag” to a group or issue in order to negatively label someone that doesn’t share the same worldview. The tags most often used today are prefixes and suffixes such as “anti” or “phobia” with the hopes of demonizing a particular group of people for the purpose of squelching debate. Part of the tagging strategy seeks to elicit an emotional response by appealing to the feelings of an individual and not the intellect.

I look back at the late 70s and early 80s with great interest in the use of these tags to turn a moral debate into a political one. The hot button issue was abortion with the passing of Roe v. Wade in 1973, and what took place in the public square was often manipulative in a psychological sense. Rhetorically, the term “antiabortion” while technically correct in describing one’s position in opposition to abortion also lacks clarity based on other societal attachments to the term. Attachments of being “antiabortion” automatically presupposed a definition of someone being anti-woman and anti-choice which is intellectually dishonest – this broad definition still lingers 30 years later. Leftist leaning politicians and groups continue to promote this form of dishonesty with their fallacious arguments on the “war against women” as seen in the last presidential election. In the 80s Christian and conservative leaders quickly attempted to turn the tide by using the term “pro-life” to combat the negative connotations of antiabortion and anti-choice. As a young man during that time I remember hearing the pro-abortion language and thinking how persuasive it was because of its pro-individual appeal. Once the situational and statistical aberrations are removed from the conversation the argument for being pro-abortion or pro-choice I believe is an ethically challenged and selfish decision. I use the abortion issue as an example to address something similar happening in our culture presently. Just a few weeks ago you may remember Phil Robertson of A&E’s Duck Dynasty was tagged as being anti-gay and homophobic because his comments given during an interview with GQ magazine. This tagging was led by the LGBT community, many Democrats, Hollywood elites, and the mainstream media. Note what Mr. Robertson actually said:

“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. … “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right. … We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus—whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out later, you see what I’m saying?”

Now note what the Apostle Paul says from 1 Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV) Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Robertson’s paraphrase of 1 Corinthians appears to be right on target and in agreement with the Apostle Paul’s statement to the Church. Verses 9 and 10 obviously address all forms of sexual immorality as a sin and in particular homosexuality. In verse 11 the Apostle specifies that at least a significant number in the Church at Corinth were once practicing these particular sins, but now have changed their behaviors and are not to return to their former lifestyle. The Apostle Paul also makes a similar argument against these forms of sin in Romans 1:18 – 32 and identifies them as forms of idolatry, (which is a whole other discussion). Phil Robertson, and Christians as a whole aren’t anti-gay or homophobic. If we’re anything we are pro-God, pro-Bible, pro-life, and pro-love. Some might debate the pro-love aspect, but from a Christian view not sharing the truth of the Gospel is unloving and a form of disobedience. To experience the truth and love of Christ and not to share it with the rest of humanity is sinful. Robertson had a duty as Follow of Christ to speak out given the platform he was given, and he did so even if some consider his speech to be somewhat crude. As a side note, my wife I believe made a great point on Phil Robertson’s supposed crudeness. Many of those who were most outraged by his rough and colorful language seemingly never speak out about the foul language used regularly on television. Somehow it’s inappropriate to speak about sexuality in a magazine article but it’s not inappropriate to take God’s name in vain repeatedly as a form of entertainment – a bit hypocritical don’t you think? The real problem “anti-taggers” have isn’t with people like Phil Robertson but with God and His Word. This is not to say I agree in totality with Phil Robertson on some of his doctrines, but I do agree with his view on the total depravity of man and his need for a Savior – the Savior Christ Jesus. As a Christian it isn’t my desire to impose my lifestyle or beliefs upon another, nor is it my desire to have nonbelievers impose their lifestyles and beliefs upon me or the Church. It’s also not my desire to shut down debate but to encourage an open and honest dialogue with individuals from all walks of life. If we preach tolerance the let us practice it also. Tolerance is the ability to accept another human being without having to approve of their lifestyle and choices. We may not always agree, but we should always be able to discuss our differing views no matter how loud the conversation becomes. Blessings, Rod

In the brief video below Paul Washer brings some interesting thoughts to the table. I certainly believe, based upon what I've seen in the Church during the last 25 years, that many children and individuals have been given a false sense of security simply because they "prayed a prayer" at VBS or in Sunday School. Watch the video and then please share your thoughts.

It all started with our official decision and commitment to debunk the Santa myth and omit the Santa Claus ruse from our Christmas celebration. My husband and I had the talk about Santa with our daughter Daisy today: "Santa is not real, he's a made up character, we don't believe in Santa, we believe in Jesus. He is a real person and we celebrate His birth. All things come from God, our presents come from Him because all that we have comes from Him, our presents from Him represent the free gift of eternal life God gave us through His son Jesus. We give gifts to represent the grace Jesus gave us when He paid the debt for our sins, etc."

So I think we have effectively dealt with the secularism that is encroaching on and taking over this sacred holiday, only to find another trend spreading like wildfire and troubling us more and more each day. Recently this "Elf on the shelf" joker began popping up all over the place. Facebook is ablaze with strategies of how to incorporate this doll into the lives of children each day leading up to Christmas. He even has his own book and get this, he watches all the children's behavior and is apparently in cahoots with Santa, employed to rat out the bad children and report the good works of the obedient children – the result of which is to be only coal and no presents to the “sinners” and all the presents they can handle to reward the works of the “little angels.” This behavior management technique goes back and forth in a dramatic song and dance until it reaches the pinnacle of this whole production: when both good and bad children alike end up getting the coveted presents they wanted in the first place.

There are so many parts of this practice (like that of Santa Claus) we take issue with and they’re too numerous to count: suggesting this fictional character possesses omnipresent qualities like that of God, the support of works over faith, putting faith and dependence in an entity other than God, to what and who's standards of behavior the children are being held, rewarding sinful behavior and God-like qualities equally, no consequences for sinful behavior, suggesting that any kind of control is possessed by anyone other than God, and so on and so forth. It’s nothing but idol worship manufactured and dressed-up in a cute festive red and white package.

Now I can't begin to tell you how appalled and distraught we became upon analysis of this jumbled concoction of distorted doctrine and the blatant disregard for the holy nature and sanctity of the miraculous historical events we celebrate during this time of year. It also saddens me to think about how hard these seemingly well-meaning parents are working to create a positive influence in their children's lives only to ultimately prevaricate in order to display a muddled and convoluted portrait of the “goodness” of mankind. What a hoax!

Don't they see that putting these seemingly harmless false idols before their children and playing along with this lie will cause their children to one day question the validity of our Savior Christ Jesus? I can just picture it now. Sooner or later their children will begin to question the reality of Santa, the Easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc. One by one, the parents then have to confess to the lie they have perpetuated for each character.

The biggest problem arises when children begin to question parents about their belief in Jesus. Will the children actually believe their parents are being honest about this Deity that you cannot see when they've already been lied to numerous times about the others? How are children expected to have unwavering faith in God when their parents have already systematically built up and then destroyed their “faith” in all of these other icons. This compromises and discredits the Godly witness of the parent to their child, making them hypocrites whose words do not match their actions. More importantly it, in turn, compromises the witness of Christ to the world portraying Him as a hypocrite, spiritualizing Him, downplaying the significance of His miraculous birth and sacrificial death, and lumps Him in with the others as a “false” idol.

Why do adults feel the need to perpetuate this secular fallacy in order to spread the feeling of “Christmas cheer?” As if the life of Christ and the knowledge of His saving grace through faith isn't enough to evoke these feelings of joy and thanksgiving. They promote these worldly values as opposed to participating in activities that bring glory and honor to a perfect God; the kind of worship that cultivates and encourages a sense of awe and amazement as God's redemptive plan begins to unfold with the birth of the Messiah. But I digress.

Then I began thinking about Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” I began to wonder if and how we can reverse-engineer this blasphemous distraction and use its basic premise to refocus family worship back on Jesus. Was there a way we could use it to create a new kind of tradition, teaching our children how to glorify Him in a way that supports sound Biblical doctrine, honoring and giving thanks to Him for His redemptive work on the cross and His grace that abounds while also providing a reminder of His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence?

And then it hit me: Does the all powerful, sovereign God in heaven not know His beloved and see and hear everything we do and say? (Ps 139:13-16, Jer 12:3) Does He not call us to be set apart by living a life that honors Him (Gal 1:15-16, Gal 2:20, Ps 4:3, Rom 12:2). He has even given us the standards by which we should live (Ex 20:1-17) and by which we will be judged in His Word (Mat 12:36, John 5:28-29). He also offers the gifts of mercy, grace, forgiveness and everlasting life through His son Jesus to those who believe in Him (John 3:16; 3:36, Rom 6:23), and redemption by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). It occurred to me that even though this basic concept when wildly astray there just might be a way to refocus and re-purpose it so that all glory, honor, and praise are redirected to God.

So here is my idea: The Messiah in the Manger initiative. Instead of centering all activities on Santa or an elf just focus on Jesus – the Messiah in the manger (Luke 2:4-14)! Get back to the true meaning of Christmas and the reason we have cause to celebrate and rejoice! Put God FIRST during this holiday and all year long.

Let’s develop traditions that show children ways to honor and worship God in order to teach them about the nature and characteristics of Our creator's sovereignty (omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence), the gifts of forgiveness, mercy and salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Look for ways to reinforce the standards God has set forth in His Word, and to live a lives that are set apart by a pure witness for Christ and of the Gospel through guarding the holy and sacred relevance of the impetus of God's redemptive plan.

Parents, make a commitment this Christmas season to keep your eyes fixed on God. Make sure your activities evoke the kind of worship that glorifies and honors God magnifying the purity of this sacred and holy celebration. Protect the wholesomeness and legacy of your witness of Christ for your children and guide/guard the developing witness of your child against the evil influences of the world, against anything that may detract from bringing God glory. Make a conscious choice to reject the worldly idols of secular celebrations and embrace the truth, and doctrines set forth by God in the Bible. If parents spent as much time fostering the acquisition of God's Word and application of Biblical truth as they do thinking up ways to position this “Elf on the shelf,” they would be weaving a truly rich and life-preserving heritage in deed.

The bottom line is: people inevitably will carry the traditions of their childhood memories into adulthood, and these are the customs and conventions they bestow upon their own children. Parents, consider the words of Paul in Romans 12:2 as you take time to consider the traditions you are supporting and the meaning behind them. I suspect as you contemplate the “reason for the season” by seeking out activities that truly glorify and worship God, you'll leave that “elf” ON the shelf and choose to magnify the Messiah in the manger!

Walking by faith, Angela Tomlinson

Romans 12:2 (NASB) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Angela and her husband are good friends of mine and she originally shared her thoughts about the “Elf on the self” with me in an email. I too was concerned about the promotion of this new trend especially among Christians and considered writing a similar article – Angela just beat me to the punch. This article is her email to me and is shared with her permission.